TRIBUTES TO PROF. T. VISWANATHAN The two-line message of Mr. Mahesh from Delhi was a rude shock for all those who knew Prof. T. Viswanathan, the former Director of erstwhile INSDOC ! I had the fortune of associating with him on several occasions… Prof. Viswanathan, fondly known as TeeVee among his close associates, was a performer par excellence in the management echelons of ICT-enabled information systems and services in the S&T sector in India. During his tenure as the Director, INSDOC, he had infused a new life to the institute and transformed it to a vibrant and dynamic centre. The S&T scholarly journals brought out by CSIR, the Indian Science Abstracts, the National Science Library – all of them reflected his hallmarks of quality and ingenuity. The launching of Scientific and Industrial Research Network (SIRNET) by INSDOC brought a new culture in the ICT-enabled Info Systems and Services, benefiting the research community of our country. SIRNET opened up greater possibilities of newer technologies in the network-enabled information systems in due course. He brought in a new dimension to the networking of libraries among the CSIR Labs across the country. He played a catalytic role in strengthening the invisible power of information systems of the CSIR Labs in India. The idea of such a collective movement was actually nucleated much earlier, but it formally shaped up at NAL, Bangalore under the initiative of Dr. IRN Goudar through the first meeting of the CSIR Heads of Libraries & Information Centres (subsequently branded as HOLIC Meets). The meeting held in 1993 was a significant event with the active participation of TeeVee. The next version of HOLIC Meet was held at NIO, Goa under the initiative of Dr. MP Tapaswi. By then a Core Team of senior LIS professionals had emerged to carry forward the mission. The meetings at Bangalore and Goa were ‘Test Beds’ for Prof.TeeVee’s ‘entry’ to the LIS fraternity. I consider that his paper “ A reflection on Dr. Ranganathan’s Fifth Law”, published in ‘ Annals of Library & Documentation, 39(2) : p. iii-v ; 1992’ was a turning point in his understanding and acceptance of our activity area. It was a kind of his ‘Baptism’ to LIS domain. The subsequent HOLIC Versions held at Dehra Dun and Lucknow had actually made Prof.TeeVee as the undisputed leader of a movement for change in CSIR. With his deep understanding of LIS – both at the conceptual and practical levels – and his vision on the possibilities of ICT for faster information system development and dissemination, endeared him equally by both the LIS professionals and the S&T managers of India. The significant roles played by the LIS and R&D professionals in CSIR including Dr.Nareshkumar (IMTECH, Chandigarh & later CSIR Hq., New Delhi), Dr. S. Krishnan (NCL Pune), Dr. IRN Goudar (NAL Bangalore), Dr.MP Tapaswi( NIO, Goa), Dr. SM Dhawan (NPL, New Delhi), Dr. Diwakar (CCMB, Hyderabad), KP Sadasivan (RRL, Trivandrum) and a strong team from INSDOC, New Delhi added strength and vigour to the movement. Prof.TeeVee, together with this group, could legitimately claim that ‘TEAM LIS CSIR’ was the forerunner of several other groups branded under ‘TEAM CSIR’ concept later – indeed, a performing role model ! My close association with Prof. TeeVee in the CSIR HOLIC Meetings, especially at Dehra Dun and Lucknow and also, in the NETMEET-92 held in Trivandrum, the latter with the participation of Mr. Ramakrishnan(Ramki) (ERNET, Delhi) and Dr. Remani (NCST, Bombay) for an exploratory communication channel development down South, are unforgettable! He was always leading with beaming ideas and bold decisions. Our country in general, and CSIR vis-à-vis the Indian S&T community in particular, had great expectations on his further contributions. But his unexpected exit from active professionalism a few years ago, was a big blow and it shattered our great dreams! His philosophical thinking of a “New World Order” was ridiculed by some people ; but it saddened many others! Like a great artist deprived of his canvas and brushes, he had to ‘live’ in his exile of solitude for long ! And now, his eternal exit from this world....and that too, in circumstances beyond one’s comprehension ! Destiny is sometimes unkind. But can it be so terribly cruel…. ?! My tears are my floral tributes to the departed visionary leader, whom I respected, regarded and loved so much !!! Sadasivan KP Consultant (Library) IIITMK, Technopark, Trivandrum & Former Head, Library & Informatics RRL/NIIST(CSIR), Trivandrum 09447903282 -- This message has been scanned for viruses and dangerous content by MailScanner, and is believed to be clean.